The trouble
with buffet ratings
I have been in Nevada almost fourty years, ten in Reno,
thirty in Las Vegas. I have travelled to every nook and cranny of this state
and have dined at probably every buffet in this state from the lousy ones in
Laughlin,Sparks and Elko to the superb ones in Las Vegas. The trouble with
folks rating buffets in Las Vegas is they get to Las Vegas from Dirty Dungaree,
Iowa, stay three days and then feel qualified to give an opinion without having
had the opportunity really to do some comparison shopping. It is the Strip
buffet mostly that gets rated. Well, there are buffets off the Strip that are
far superior considering price and ambience than anything you can get on the
Strip. I find a $4.95 luncheon buffet with a limited menu more valuable than a
$14.95 luncheon buffet with a large selection. After all, how much can you
eat?. We locals know it and take advantage of it, heck we get half price
coupons sent to us by mail, we ask for senior discounts and get them. But,
since most tourists are under time constraints I need to rate a goodly number
of Strip buffets as well.
In summation: avoid Strip buffets if at all possible.
Most of the buffets listed in this section try to appeal to those folks who do
not want to spend a lot of money on food. I have tried them all and some of
them are real bad. If you like good eats for a reasonable price than stay away
from those places that have a red mark. |
 Buffets around town
I am talking about buffets that are not in
hotels. I have checked on quite a few buffets around town, chinese, indian,
mexican etc. etc. I have come to the conclusion they are really not worth it.
|
 Arizona Charlie's
WEST: 740 S. Decatur Bl. Tel: 702-258-5111
EAST 4575 Boulder Highway, Tel: 702-951-9100
There are two Arizona Charlies now, east and west. I
gotta be honest, I like the west a little better, as far as the food is
concerned. But honestly, both places are dirt cheap and actually give you very
good value for the money. Especially if you can get a hold of their coupons.
Seniors always get a discount at the buffet. A real good deal if you do not
want to spend an arm and a leg for a meal. This is where the locals hang.
· |
Boardwalk
3750 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 702-735-2400
I dined there once and I won't return. Does that tell you
anything? This must be the worst buffet with the worst service and the worst
food in Las Vegas. |
Buffalo
Bills
In Primm, NV., Tel: 386-7867.
I have eaten there once and I haven't been back.
Breakfast $6.00, lunch $ $7.00, dinner $8.00. Besides, this place is 35 miles
south of Las Vegas. Why do I even bother? The same goes for the place across
the street, Whiskey Pete's. |
 Castaways
32800 Fremont St., Tel: 385-9123, buffet
385-9177.
This is the former Showboat. I always found this place to
have pretty good food at a low price. They have a lot of local clientel that
might explain it. Numerous different times and buffets. Why can't they keep it
simple? No breakfast, lunch $ $6.00, dinner $ 7.00. |
Circus-Circus
2880 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 702-734-0410
Huge is the watchword here. This place has been known to
seat as many as 10,000 diners per day. The value here is excellent. Don't
expect gourmet, but you only pay four or five bucks per person. Not bad at all
compared to some places on the strip. |
Fiesta
2400 North Rancho Dr., N. Las Vegas, Tel:
631-7000.
Inexpensive as far as buffets go. $5, $7 and $10
(breakfast, lunch and dinner.) Like I said, the farther away from the strip you
are the better it gets. (maybe I should blow town altogether). The food is not
bad for the price. Numerous varieties of buffets are offered on different days.
|
Fitzgeralds
301 Fremont St., Tel: 388-2400.
The food is pretty cheap here otherwise it wouldn't be
worth it. Breakfast and lunch $6.00, prime rib buffet nightly $9.00.
|
Fremont
200 Fremont St., Tel:385-3232, buffet 385-6226.
Again, the value is in the pricing. $5.00, $7.00, $10.00
for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Specialty buffet nights will cost you more. It
is really pretty good for the price. I had dinner again here the other night
and found it to be very good for the price. |
Gold Coast
4000 W. Flamingo Rd., Tel: 367-7111
$4.00, $6.00 and $8.00. The food isn't much but the price
is right. I have been to that place numerous times and I always look at it as a
quick fix and not a dining experience. |
Green Valley
Ranch
I paid $8.57 (tax included) for lunch. There are several active cooking
stations such as American, Oriental, Italian etc. I found the decor excellent,
the food about average, the room very comfortable. The value isn't as good as
in some other places. |
Imperial Palace
3535 S.Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 731-3311.
I like their car collection a whole lot better than their
buffet. Especially Adolf's car and authentic(?) cap. They have buffets too
numerous to mention because of time and space. $6.00, $8.00 and $9.00 is all
you need to remember. Don't forget those cars now you hear! |
Lady Luck
206 N. 3rd St., Tel: 477-3000.
Downtown, close to the old main post office. I don't know
if you want to "dine" here. If you are strapped for money you could
give it a shot. $5.00, $6.00 and $8.00. |
Nevada
Palace
5255 Boulder Highway., Tel: 458-8810.
If you think this is really a palace you are in for a
shock. The food is barely edible. No breakfast except SAT-SUN $5.00, dinner
$7.00. Except for the so called specialty buffets. |
Palace
Station
2411 W. Sahara, at the off-ramp and on-ramp of
I-15.
03/02/01. This place is slipping. I had much better food
here before. The other Station Casinos have much better food too. But, the
price is right, especially if you have one of their boarding cards. B.T.W a
boarding card is their bonus card and is available at any Station courtesy
desk.
Just recently tested it again. The quality is much lower now. Best to avoid
unless you have one of their half-off coupons.
I keep on checking but things are not getting any better. I play bingo at that
hotel so I have lots of opportunity to look around. The other day there was not
a single hot vegetable on the menu. Unless I classify a potato as a vegetable.
Watch for the County Health Dept. ratings! They get
written up often. |
Palms
Resort
West Flamingo Road, just a few blocks west of the Strip. Across the street from
the Gold Coast.
Festival Market buffet. We had our Thanksgiving dinner there. In view of the
fact the hotel had only been open a week I am not giving an evaluation at this
time. I do not think it would be fair. Let's give them a chance to get
situated. |
Paris
3655 Las Vegas Bl. S. Tel: 702-946-7000.
In exchange for about $25 in US currency you can get some
phoney baloney French decor to go with the mostly phoney baloney French
food.You would think for that kind of money they could get closer to the real
thing. "Especialment" in the dessert, salad and cheese departments. I
would go elsewhere, spend half the money and get a better buffet. Unless you
have never been on the Continent and are eager for the so called
"French" experience. I base my above no rating on the price-reward
ratio. |
Primm
Valley Resorts
5255 Boulder Highway., Tel: 458-8810.
I would stay away from that place. First of all it is
about 35-40 miles south of Las Vegas. Also the food there is really poor. The
same holds true for the two places in Jean, Nevada Landing etc. Don't eat there
unless you are really down to you last couple of bucks. |
Riviera
2901 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 702-734-5110
I could actually repeat word for word what I said about
the Sahara buffet. Do not try it unless you want cheap and inferior. |
Sahara
2535 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 702-737-2111
Is relatively inexpensive. In exchange for that you get
poor quality and minimal service. Actually no service. I would not go there
unless price were my primary objective. |
Sam's Town
5111 Boulder Highway., Tel: 702-456-7777,
454-8006 (buffet direct)
If your heart is set to dine at a place on Boulder
Highway I would go directly to Sam's Town where the food is much superior to
anything else around in that area.. Anyway, here the prices are as follows:
breakfast $5., lunch $7., dinner $11.
Revisited the buffet and found the quality and selection much superior compared
to my previous visit. It is in a new and really nice room. Easy food access
from all areas. The only issue I have is with the dessert selection. Other than
that I now rate this buffet superior to other buffets in that part of
town.. |
San Remo
115 E. Tropicana Av., Tel: 702-739-9000
Unacceptable by most standards. $8. $8. and $10.
Dropped by again the other day. Nothing has changed. Only the furniture is more
worn than before. I had springs of the seat poking me in the rear end. |
Silverton
3333 Blue Diamond Rd., Tel: 702-263-7777
The pricing reflects their desire to cater to the less
discerning. They offer a multitude of different buffets all with different
pricing. Too complicated for me. I'll just give you the basics and you can call
them for more info. Actually why would you? Try another buffet instead. $4, $7
and $8. |
Stratosphere
2000 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 702-280-7777
I tried it and I found it wanting. $6, $7 and $9.
|
Suncoast
9090 Alta Dr., Tel: 702-636-7111
I had lunch there the other day. Paid about $7. The
brisket was excellent. The vegetables on the other hand left a lot to be
desired. Not much flavor. It is not hard to put flavor into veggies. Also the
spanish rice was downright lousy. But, for the money it (the buffet) is
probably OK. |
Sunset
Station
1301 W. Sunset., Henderson, Tel:
702-547-7777
Buffet with multiple live action cooking stations:
Mexican, American, Italian, Chinese, salsa station. Good food for the price.
$5, $7, $10. |
Sweet
Tomatoes
375 N. Stephanie St., Henderson Tel:
702-933-1212
Here is a buffet that competes with local hotel buffets
for the local trade. Successfully too! Lots of fresh vegetables as you enter.
This is an old trick employed by buffet managers all over the world. Load up on
veggies and starches and you will not eat as many of the expensive items that
are hidden around the corner on your left as you leave the salad bar. Overall
not a bad deal. I think I paid about six bucks but I could be wrong. I tossed
the receipt. At any rate, you could drop by when in the area. Beats parking and
walking at one of those huge hotels. Here you can park almost next to the
entrance. |
Texas Station
2101 Texas Star Ln., North Las Vegas, Tel:
702-631-1000
This hotel is at North Rancho Dr. in North Las Vegas.
Buffet with multiple live action cooking statios:
Mexican, American, Italian, Chinese, salsa station. $5, $7, $10. Watch for the
Health Dept. reports on this one. |
The Orleans
4500 W. Tropicana Av., Tel: 365-7111
This is a darn good buffet, almost always fast seating.
These are the same folks who run the Gold Coast. How can it be those two places
are so different? Breakfast $5, lunch $7, dinner $10. |
Westward Ho
2900 S. Las Vegas Bl., Tel: 731-2900.
I don't even know what motivated me to eat there.
Amateurish attempt at cooking. Forget this one. Go next door to Circus Circus,
they are only a few feet away. Breakfast $7, lunch $7, dinner $9. |
Whiskey Pete's
In Primm, NV., Tel: 386-7867.
I have eaten there once and I haven't been back.
Breakfast $6, lunch $7, dinner $8. Besides, this place is 35 miles south of Las
Vegas. Why do I even bother? The same goes for the place across the street,
Buffalo Bills. |
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